Thackley had a quick turnaround from the narrow defeat to North Ferriby at the weekend with a Tuesday night trip to Knaresborough Town in the NCEL Premier Division. Manager Patrick McGuire made one change to the starting lineup, with Frankie Sinfield replacing Amir Berchil who took a place on the bench.

Thackley almost got off to the perfect start on 2 mins when Ben Grech-Brooksbank attempted a scissor kick after a cross from the right from Waddington, his effort going just wide of the post. On 10 mins, our hosts for the evening had their first real effort. It was clear that Knaresborough Town would be playing direct long balls to Edwards in attack. The chance came from this as a long ball from the keeper saw Edwards get on the end of it and he attempted to lob Wilson who was closing him down, the ball bouncing wide. On 14 mins, Greaves was slid in behind the back line and the Brown in the home goal met him in the middle of his own half to clear. The ball fell to Waddington who tried to make space to shoot into the empty net, but when he was able to the red shirts of the defenders had got back and cleared.

On 15 mins, Captain Steven Crawford picked up a yellow card for his first offence in the middle of the pitch. It was the first sign that it would be an interesting showing from the referee during the evening. On 22 mins, Chippendale picked up the ball on the left and was the victim of a heavy tackle by Wildin. He had managed to get his through ball to Grech-Brooksbank who hit a first time shot destined for the bottom corner which Brown got down to save. The referee pulled Wildin for a discussion, but did not produce a yellow card. The next chance would fall to Greaves on 28 mins after a good pass into the right channel released him. He elected to shoot first time from the edge of the area to try and wrong foot the keeper, but his effort was the wrong side of the far left post.

On 44 mins, Hargreaves picked up another Thackley booking for a late tackle out on the halfway line on the left wing. The Knaresborough Town bench were appealing for more than a yellow card but the referee waved away the appeals.

On 45+1 mins was a big flash point in the game. Crawford and Greaves pinched the ball in the final third from the Knaresborough Town backline. Crawford was in on goal just to the left hand side of the post and looked like he was about to get a shot away. Wildin came across and took him down. It looked as though if it was in the box, it would be a penalty and a yellow card, or if it was outside of the box it would be a free kick and a red card (under the current "double jeopardy" rule of the game where someone giving away a penalty should not be punished twice by a red card and a penalty). The referee however awarded a free kick and a yellow card.

Luckily for the referee, Aidan Chippendale stepped up and smashed the free kick into the roof of the net to give Thackley the lead at the half time break. 0-1 (45+3mins)

Half time: Knaresborough Town 0 v 1 Thackley AFC

Early into the second half Greaves was sent away down the right channel of the hosts backline after defending a corner. Walker had tracked the run and managed to get his body in front, but stumbled and handled the ball on the floor as Greaves looked to try and regain possession. The referee awarded a free kick and showed Walker a yellow card, in an incident which was similar to the (harsh) red card which former Thackley player Alex Marsh received when the teams met earlier in the season in the FA Vase. On 55 mins, Thackley broke from a free kick and after a long pass forward, Brown in the home goal found himself almost in the centre circle to clear. Sinfield picked up the ball, rounded him and a defender and advanced to the box. He just could not get the space for a shot and the defenders eventually cleared.

The Thackley missed chances would be punished shortly after as Edwards rose in the 6 yard box to head home a Knaresborough Town corner to level the scores 1-1 (59mins). A minute later, the Dennyboys had Wilson to thank for keeping the scores level. Suddards looked to be advancing well down the right wing when possession was turned over, and Edwards was played in down the left wing which had been vacated. He entered the box and got his shot away but Wilson had closed the angles and made the save.

On 64 mins, another flash point arose in the game which saw both players coming together. Hargreaves cleared a ball and Edwards looked to leave a leg in / kick out at Hargreaves as he fell to the floor. Hargreaves reacted pushing Edwards and Basi also came across, followed by the rest of the playing squads. When the referee restored calm and consulted with his assistant referees, it resulted in yellow cards for Basi for Thackley and Edwards for Knaresborough Town. On 68 mins, McGuire introduced Berchil from the bench as he replaced Sinfield, and on 76 mins Poole replaced Grech-Brooksbank who had shown some impressive touches in his second start of the season.

On 78 mins, Wildin would receive a red card after he took down Chippendale who was advancing into the Knaresborough Town box from the left wing position. Chippendale took the free kick but Brown saved the effort. On 83 mins, Murphy replaced Waddington. On 88 mins, Chippendale had another chance from a free kick as Crawford had been taken down on the edge. The effort though was high over the bar this time. On 90 mins, Thackley had a strong penalty appeal turned down as Suddards had done well on the left wing and had entered the box. He appeared to have an arm around his waist which brought him down, but the referee again waved away the appeals.

Thackley had to be mindful of being caught on the break by the 10 men, who were still trying to find a winner themselves, but the best chance fell to Thackley in stoppage time. Berchil picked the ball up on the right wing and cut inside in the box. He shot left footed with an effort which looked destined for the bottom left corner, but Brown got down to save. The ball just missed the advancing Murphy for a tap in. Thackley picked up the ball again though and Chippendale had a shot which was blocked by the red shirts diving in. It would turn out to be the final action of the game.

Full time: Knaresborough Town 1 v 1 Thackley AFC

On the balance of the chances created, Thackley will feel that it is 2 points dropped as the opportunities were there to win the game. However, it is a point away from home in a mid-week game which had some difficult decisions to contend with within the match.

Next up the FA Vase journey continues as Thackley face Abbey Hey in the Second Round of the competition. This is the 1st of four successive home matches to come at Dennyfield this month.

Knaresborough Town: Brown; McCalmont; Milsom; Wildin; Anderson; Rose; Creamer; Parkes©; Edwards; Walker; Navier. Subs: Dugdale; Bedford; Jones; Marsh; Cook.

Thackley: Wilson; Suddards; Hargreaves; Crawford ©; Basi; J.Mitchell; Waddington (Murphy 83mins); Grech-Brooksbank (Poole 76mins); Greaves; Sinfield (Berchil 68mins); Chippendale. Unused subs: Haigh; St.Juste.

Knaresborough Town scorer: Edwards (59mins)

Thackley scorer: Chippendale (45+3mins)

Attendance: 114